Category Archives: Social Security
The Importance of a Special Needs Trust for SSI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are a major part of millions of Americans’ lives, particularly those who have special needs. Qualifying for SSI benefits as a special needs recipient is much harder to accomplish than one may think, and part of that is making the financial cut set by the Social Security Administration. If… Read More »
What Does Date Last Insured (DLI) Mean?
Receiving disability is a vital part of millions of Americans’ lives. Currently, 10,450,000 Americans receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). However, successfully applying for and receiving these benefits can be complex, and being accepted into this program depends on a wide range of criteria. The date last insured (DLI) is the date before which… Read More »
Social Security Listings
What are Listings? Why are they Important? What Happens if I do Not Meet Them? If you have had any experience with the Social Security Administration (SSA), you know just how complex and convoluted it can be. One of the particularly confusing aspects of disability involves the SSA’s listings of impairments. These listings define… Read More »
Mental Disorders and Social Security Benefits
Approximately 43.8 million Americans suffer from a mental disease, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. However, while one in five Americans suffers from a mental illness, only one in 25 suffer from an illness that substantially interferes with their major life activities. For these individuals, working may no longer be an option,… Read More »
Social Security and Evidence of Disorder of the Spine and Major Dysfunction of a Joint
If you have a spine injury or major dysfunction of a joint, you are not alone. In fact, according to World Spine Day, lower back pain is the leading cause disability worldwide. 80 percent of Americans will develop back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the leading cause of missed… Read More »
Working and Receiving SSD Benefits
Millions of Americans suffer from a disability. In fact, 40 million Americans have some sort of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is not to say that all of these people are disabled from working. In fact, many disabled people, even those who are receiving Social Security Disability… Read More »
Substantial Gainful Activity
There are seemingly endless hoops to jump through for Social Security Disability applicants. One of the most important criteria is whether the disabled person is able to earn a living wage. In order to qualify, the applicant cannot be able to engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is further described below. For assistance… Read More »
Supplemental Security Income: Benefits for Disabled Children
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under the Social Security Administration is a resource for low income senior citizens aged 65 or older, as well as the blind or disabled. Additionally, children under the age of 18 can qualify for SSI benefits if they have certain physical or mental disabilities and the income of their family… Read More »
Credibility of Treating Doctors Versus Social Security Administration Consultative Examinations
In order to receive Social Security Disability benefits (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must show that your condition will last more than 12 months and that the disability keeps you from performing Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). One of the measurements for SGA is monthly income. If you are regularly earning more than… Read More »
Social Security and Sedentary Duty
When the Social Security Administration makes disability determinations, it uses a system that scales the work people do from sedentary to very heavy. The full scale is as follows: sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy. Sedentary work, as it happens, accounts for the majority of jobs in the U.S; indeed, 80 percent of… Read More »
